378 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



then immediately relax their hold to recommence the 

 attack. They fastened upon each other's shoulders, 

 or bellies, embraced and overthrew each other, then 

 raised themselves by turns, taking their revenge 

 without producing any serious mischief. They did not 

 spurt out their venom as in their combats, nor retain 

 their opponents with that obstinacy which we observe 

 in their real quarrels. They presently abandoned 

 those which they had first seized, and endeavoured to 

 catch others. I have seen some who were so eager 

 in these exercises, that they pursued several workers 

 in succession, and struggled with them a few mo- 

 ments, the skirmish only terminating when the least 

 animated, having overthrown his antagonist, succeeded 

 in escaping and hiding in one of the galleries. In 

 one place, two ants appeared to be gamboling 

 about a stalk of grass, — turning alternately to avoid 

 or seize each other, which brought to my recollection 

 the sport and pastime of young dogs when they rise 

 on their hind-legs, attempting to bite, overthrow, and 

 seize each other, without once closing their teeth. 

 To witness these facts, it is necessary to approach the 

 ant-hills with much paution, that the ants should 

 have no idea of our presence ; if they had, they 

 would cease at the moment their plays or their occu- 

 pations, would put themselves in a posture of defence, 

 curve up their tails, and ejaculate their venom."* 



* IVl. P. Huber on Ants, p. 203. 



